CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS DWELLERS OF A CONSERVATION UNIT: WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION DOES THEY OFFER TO THEM?

In the midst of the complexity that involves the environmental subject we face the problem of establishment and management of the protected areas, with consequent expansion for the Environmental Education in these areas. This is the case of the State Forest Edmundo Navarro de Andrade (FEENA), a conservation unit in Sao Paulo State. There is a group of residents in the unit (employees and their families), which includes children and adolescents who live together with the forest day by day, and whose relationship with the institution is not known. The aim of this research was to identify and analyze these families activities related to the forest, discussing proposals of Environmental Education directed to their needs and more specific interests. The investigation had a qualitative approach and involved mainly collective interviews. In this paper we will present the data analyses concerning the subject of living together with the rules and regulations of FEENA. The research identified hard critics to the Institution rules that restrain the residents from practicing activities or frequenting places as they wish, showing how their relationship with the Unit presents situations of conflicts, which must be considered when we think of Environmental Education to form citizenship and individual autonomy.